Welcome to the roller coaster ride…

I’m not the kind of girl you’d expect to find in the back of a tour bus. Or the kind you’d expect to find holed up in seedy venues in the bad part of town, taking in as much live music as possible.

I pretty much look like every other blonde-haired, blue-eyed spoiled suburban brat you’ve ever come across. I graduated from a nice university and work a typical 9-to-5 job. I love my parents and still say please and thank you.

And I survive on music.

That’s because for me, music is the very blood in my veins. It’s the chemicals in my brain that keep me balanced and happy. Without it, life would not be worth living.

So when I arrive at a venue, no matter how big or small, present my ticket and step inside that night’s hallowed doors, I’m there for the music. I’m there for my dose of psychological peace to get me through the next few weeks. I’m not interested in who’s had too much to drink, what girl is being a bitch or how I can talk a bouncer into letting me backstage.

When I stand before I stage, I’m there for the purest form of catharsis I have discovered in my quarter century on this planet: drum riffs, guitar solos and soaring vocals that have the power to wrap me up in their magic and make the rest of the world melt away for just one night.

A week ago, I saw John Mayer. As he intro-ed a song, he talked about how for some people the concert experience starts the second the show is announced. There’s that thrill of excitement as you click the “purchase” button on the ticket outlet’s website. Another wave when, if you’re old-fashioned like me, the golden ticket arrives in the mail. And, as JM put it so beautifully, you think “Things really suck, but it’ll be better once I go to the Mayer concert.”

And I seriously wondered if he was meaning to speak directly to me.

And that’s what I hope to capture in this writing project: the experience of being a fan of music. There are plenty of blogs for music news, free downloads, critiques of why every single band you listen to sucks, even about modern day groupies’ conquests. My interest lies in truly getting back to the heart of the matter.

So welcome to the rollercoaster ride and stay tuned. This particular musical adventure is just getting started…